His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi,
Minister of Municipality and Environment opened on Saturday 16 December 2017,
the Lusail Expressway project after completing all its main works. This was in
participation of H.E. Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of the
Public Works Authority, Eng. Abdullah Al Attiyah, the Assistant President, officials
and managers from Ashghal, representatives of the consulting and construction
companies that participated in the implementation of the project, in addition
to H.E. the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea in Doha.
One of the most prominent architectural monuments in
Doha, the arches of Interchange 5/6, was launched. Which is a Qatari monument standing tall and with its
height representing an icon of creativity and engineering achievements, and proving to the world that
Qatar is going ahead towards achieving its vision, overcoming the challenges,
and demonstrating that this vision is realized to become a reality full of
pride.
The arches at Interchange 5/6 are the biggest and
tallest monument in Qatar with a height of 100 metres and width of 147 metres,
and weighing more than 9300 tons of steel.
A documentary video was played during the launch event
of Lusail Expressway, showing the journey of the implementation of Lusail
Expressway and the engineering challenges that Ashghal overcame, in addition to
the consecutive openings that this year witnessed for the complete parts of the
project, until the completion of all main works including the main
carriageways, tunnels and bridges.
That was followed by giving the signal to start the
launch of the arches at Interchange 5/6, where the sky was lit up with the
Qatari flag colours, decorating the 100 metre high arches. The lights wrote the
words of H.H. the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the arches “Promise
of Prosperity and Glory”, after which the numbers 5/6 appeared in the sky as a sign
of the launch of the most prominent architectural icon in Doha, that reflects a
unique combination of modernity and heritage, and stands tall in a place where
the present of Doha meets its future.
In this occasion, H.E. Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi
President of the Public Works Authority, expressed his thanks for the care and
guidance of H.E. the Prime Minister, for following up with the major projects
in progress, which had the biggest impact in doubling work and overcoming
challenges to achieve Qatar’s ambitious vision and to strengthen its position.
H.E. added that the completion of Lusail Expressway, with the preceding
achievements in many important projects throughout the current year, is a proof
of our capability to accomplish big achievements, and to head towards achieving
Qatar’s vision and its development goals, overcoming all challenges.
Details of
Lusail Expressway Opening
Main Road:
·
Starting this evening, traffic was moved to the main carriageway of
Lusail Expressway along the whole road from its start in West Bay area until
its end at Lusail City, which includes four lanes in each direction.
·
The at grade level on Omar Al Mokhtar Street was also opened to traffic
in both directions, going through Interchange 5/6.
·
The at grade lanes turning left in both directions at Al Gassar
Interchange will also open, in addition to the at grade traffic lights at the
Pearl Interchange next week.
Bridges:
·
Al Gassar Interchange bridge opened completely to traffic today with a
length of 600 metres and three lanes in each direction, which connects Onaiza
Street and the Cultural Village “Katara” area in both directions.
·
Also today all lanes of the north and south canal crossings opened to
traffic, where the North Canal Crossing includes 8 lanes in each direction
while the South Canal Crossing includes 6 lanes in each direction.
·
All four bridges included in the project have been completely opened to
traffic, whereas the bridge at Interchange 5/6 was opened end of last May.
Tunnels:
·
Today all lanes in both directions at the Pearl Interchange Tunnel
opened to traffic, which connects Lusail Expressway to Lusail City. The length
of the tunnel is about 700 metres and includes four lanes in each direction.
·
The tunnel at Interchange 5/6 also opened today, with a length of 500
metres, connecting Al Istiqlal Street and Lusail Expressway, and includes three
lanes in each direction.
·
One of Al Gassar Interchange tunnels opened, connecting Lusail Expressway
for those coming from West Bay heading left to Onazia Street, and the tunnel
includes two lanes in one direction, with a length of 600 metres.
·
Eight tunnels are now open to traffic out of nine included in the
project, where the main tunnel at Al Gassar Interchange opened end of March
2017, and next week will witness the opening of the other tunnel at Al Gassar
Interchange for those heading from Lusail City and the Pearl on Lusail
Expressway left to Katara.
The
Unique Architectural Character for Lusail Expressway:
Lusail Expressway is
an iconic architecture with characteristics inspired by the Qatari marine heritage vocabulary,
and forms a combination of Qatar’s past and future, given that it is the main
expressway on the sea front that stretches over the northern coast of Doha
City. The blue wall panels that decorate the tunnels are inspired by the waves
of the fishermen nets under the water, and all other design elements were
chosen carefully, such as the lighting poles which will light in blue as well
along the road.
Lusail Expressway
implementation journey:
The
vast excavation and execution works of the multi-level tunnels and bridges in
the project, as well as the construction of two marine bridges, was completely
executed without interrupting traffic. This is in addition to the excavation
works that took place at a depth of 30 metres below ground surface along six
kilometres, for integrated infrastructure to allow for electricity and drainage
networks, and to allow for maintenance works without the need for more
excavations in the future. In addition to building an underground metro tunnel
which will cross under the marine bridge.
More
than 75 thousand tons of reinforced steel and more than 345 thousand tons of
asphalt were used in the project, with the participation of more than 4000
workers.